Dark Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 2) Read Free

reminder of his craftsmanship. “I can’t believe they live here. It’s amazing.”
    “They have a hot tub out back, too,” Paris said.
    “Have you been in it?”
    “Twice,” Paris answered. “It’s really cool, but I know they’ve done a lot of filthy things in it and I can’t always push that out of my mind. It’s water, so it’s supposed to be clean, but you know how sexed up they get.”
    Kelsey chuckled. “I guess some things never change, huh?”
    “They’re even more disgusting now,” Paris said. “They paw at each other twenty-four hours a day.”
    I frowned. We don’t “paw” at each other. That was a gross exaggeration.
    “What are you doing?” Aric asked, moving into the hallway behind me and peering around the corner. “Are you spying on someone?”
    I lifted my finger to my lips to quiet him. “Paris and Kelsey are talking about us,” I whispered.
    “Are they saying anything good?”
    “Paris says we paw at each other all the time.”
    Aric pursed his lips. “I think that’s probably a fair assessment,” he said, squeezing my rear end for good measure before shoving me out into the living room. “Hello, ladies. Welcome to our home.”
    Kelsey’s green eyes widened when she caught sight of us, and she hurried over to give me a hug. I was flustered thanks to Aric outing my location, but I returned the embrace.
    “I missed you so much,” Kelsey said. “I’m so glad you guys aren’t hiding any longer. That was such a bummer.”
    “We’re glad too,” Aric said, offering Kelsey a more muted hug. “Does anyone want a drink?”
    “What time are we leaving for the party?” Paris asked, glancing around the house. “Are we the only ones here? I thought for sure your mother would be trying to put you in a horrendous dress.”
    “She already tried,” I answered, following Aric into the kitchen. “It’s pink.”
    Kelsey snorted. “I’m guessing that didn’t go over well.”
    “I have no idea where she is,” I admitted, lifting my chin so I could scan the open floor plan. “Maybe I got lucky and she left.”
    “You didn’t get that lucky, dear,” Mom said, breezing through the living room with a pair of dyed pink pumps in her hand. “I just had to run out to my car to retrieve your shoes.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not wearing those shoes.”
    “They go with the dress,” Mom argued.
    “I’m not wearing that dress either.”
    “Yes, you are.” Mom used her best “you’re going to do it whether you like it or not” voice.
    “That’s not going to work on me,” I challenged. “I’m not wearing that dress.” My temper ratcheted up a notch, causing the teapot on the stove to rattle.
    “Zoe,” Aric warned, his voice low. “Don’t blow up the house.”
    Maintaining control of my expanded powers was getting easier, but I still lost my grip occasionally. Aric preferred it when that happened outside – or when he had a fire extinguisher handy.
    “Did you do that?” Kelsey asked, awed. “Paris said you were like a bomb ready to go off these days, but I thought she was exaggerating.”
    I narrowed my eyes and shot Paris a dirty look. “You compared me to a bomb?”
    “I only said that you were really powerful,” Paris hedged. “I … please don’t set me on fire!”
    My heart sank at the momentary terror that flitted across her face. The last thing I want is for people to be frightened of my power. If they wanted to be frightened of me because of my attitude, that’s a whole other story. “I’m not going to set anyone on fire.”
    “No, she’s not,” Aric agreed, resting his hand on my shoulder. “Nancy, I know you like that dress, but you’re going to have to let it go. Zoe isn’t wearing it … and it’s not just because she hates it. I hate it, too.”
    Mom frowned. She wasn’t worried about my temper in the least. “That dress is beautiful!”
    “I’m not marrying a woman who looks like something you take when you’re sick,”